The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-29

ler,i says, Lib didn't go to hurt you; Lib
love you better N anything else on earthP
''Then he coo-cooed in his cunnin' little
way, an laid his wet little cheeks on mine
in a way that like to ave broke my heart
was standin' in the cave door, holdin' him
so, when there come an awful roar. saw
Jack an Mandy jump up, scared like, an
l stepped back into the cave with ] 1tY, an
them
Here Lib quite broke down, and cried for
long time before she said:
swell, the next minute every thing was
pitch dark. Jack nor Mandy nor the cabin
nor nothin' was to be seen. There was the
awfullest roarin' an crashin' ever heered.
Ne an Laty am Tobe all cuddled up in a
corner Of the cave, scared out Of our seven
senses.
After awhile 1 crawled to the cave door.
The snow an wind was blowin' in The
cabin was gone; there wasn't sign OF it.
Then l knowed there'd been snow-slide.
Il yelled an yelled for MANDY an Jack,
but there want no answer at first. By and
by heerd some one cryin'. Jacks lantern
was in the cave. He'd Jest been IN there,
coverin' up the things with old rags an
straw, an we always kept matches on
shelf in there. got the lantern an lighted
it; then 1 covered Laty all up good with the
rags am straw, an made Tobe lay down by
him
Then l started out, and found Mandy
wedged in 'mong some rocks bout hundred
yards down the mountain. She was cryIn'
an goin' on awful, poor womanl The way
she tux on bout Laty was awful She
couldn't stand, an couldn't get her up to
the cave.
MANDY said l, at last, I'm goin' down
to Crystal Camp for help
"'You can't says she, awful feeble like.
"I KIM says l, AN Pm goin', to. AM
now, Mandy" says 1, you jest brace up till
git back; you Jest think o. Laty. You're
his ma an he needs you; think o. that. AM
Mandy said l, if don't git back, an you
git out O. here all right, you remember that
Lib Dill amt no hard feelins' again you
nor Jack: an if do git back, an you don't
git out o. here, you remember to your last
breath that Lib Dill will be mother to
your baby
Then l brought straw an rags an COW
cred her up the best could. She lay still,
cryin' an goin' on fit to break ones heart.
bent over her an said, Goodbye, Mandy /;
Pm goin'.'
"She never said word, but she flung her
one free arm around my neck an kissed me,
an that made it all right tween me an
Mandy Lane. Livin' or dead, / amt nothin'
agin her.
II went back to the cave, and made Tobe
lay down by Laty. Don't you move says l
to the dog and he won't. They'll find him
an Laty all covered up under straw an
rags behind tater box in a corner Of the
cave where Laty can't get out. amt wor-
ried none bout him, but, o Jack! o Mandy !!
"Yes," said Lib, wearily, little later, ~
did have an awful pull to git here; but l
knowed ev'ry foot of the way. 1t was lucky
snatched nv old cloak and shawl when
Mandy drove me out, or I'd froze."
Before noon the next day Silas Ray, the
landlord, came down from the mountain
carrying baby Laty tenderly in his strong
arms. The child was asleep with the tears
on his pretty face. Lib reached up her arms
for the baby. Silas laid him gently down by
her side and said: 81 reckon you've as good
right to him as anybydy now. They're
bringin' his father an mother down--dead."
My interest in the brave girl and her for
lorn charge led me to take them with me
when 1 left Crystal Camp, and 1 finally
turned them over to some wealthy friends
of mine in the East, who were both willing
and able to provide for them.
This was ten years ago. A few days since
received a letter from LIB Dill, who is now
a school teacher in new town of one of our
Western States, in which she says that Laty
has grown up to be a bright and good boy,
and that she hopes to make good man Of
him yet.
She also alludes to certain young farmer,
between whom and herself there appears to
have sprung up mutual interest, which
has led to plans which, if carried out, will
result in her having home of her own.
1--WE are all-Laty and the farmer and p
she says, Every happy in planning for the
future that promises so fair."-J. L. Hdr-
6our, ie Youths Companion.